Shop Makeover: Before and After With Photoshop

Hi, my name is Mike Loveland of Ollibird.com. For the past decade, I’ve worked in Photoshop almost every day, from fixing and enhancing images taken by professional photographers to creating original digital artwork to teaching online classes.

Great photography can really sell your product here on Etsy. It’s the first thing that people see when they’re looking at what you have to offer. While knowing how to set up and take a great picture is key, knowing how to fix and enhance that image in Photoshop will take your image to the next level (and, speaking from personal experience, it can make up for the skills you may lack behind the camera).

Today, I’d like to offer you a few tips I’ve learned along the way for some Photoshop basics that will make a big impact on your product photos. For this tutorial, I’ve worked on four images submitted by Etsy sellers. Check out the before and afters to see what a difference Photoshop can make!

Many images, like the above image of earrings, need very little work! In this case, the original is underexposed, and therefore too dark. To work this image quickly, I actually opened it up in Camera RAW, a sub-application of Photoshop. (If you have Photoshop installed on your computer, you’ll have to first open Adobe Bridge and navigate to your file. Right-click your file and choose “Open in Camera RAW.”)

On the main screen of Camera RAW, I have lots of sliders on the right and I can see my image on the left. This image needed 3 things. I simply…

Slid the “Exposure” slider to the right, increasing the exposure.

Slid the Fill Light slider to the right, adding a little more light.

Used the crop tool (located along the top of the application, if I hold down on the crop tool, I will see standard crop ratios; in this case, I chose 3 to 4).

Cropped out some unnecessary space, which draws even more attention to the great product. Voila! In just a couple of minutes, this photo is ready to use.

Next up is an image of a woman modeling a necklace. Again, I opened this image in Camera RAW. When I see an image like this, the first thing I notice is that it needs what is called “white balance.” The white of the image is a little bit off. Along the top of the application is a row of icons. The first eye dropper, the third icon from the left, is the white balance eye dropper. I simply use it to sample something that should be white. In this case, I clicked the wall behind the model and immediately the image is brightened and all colors are truer.

Next, as with the image of the earrings, I increased the exposure because the original was underexposed. I increased the fill light and contrast as well. I also bumped up the blacks slightly (up to 5) to improve the richness of the shirt, and finally cropped the image using the crop tool at the top of the application. (I also chose 3 to 4 on this one.)

When I was finished making these adjustments in Camera RAW, I clicked on Open Image, which opened my adjusted image in regular Photoshop. Since most of my work was already done in Camera RAW, I could do some quick retouches in Photoshop. I simply used the spot healing brush to click on and remove small skin blemishes.

Once again, I opened the above image of a shirt in Camera RAW. Are you beginning to see how useful Camera RAW is yet? This tool is much quicker, easier, and more effective than doing the same work in Photoshop. (In fact, I teach an online class called photo workflow that focuses mainly on using Camera RAW to enhance images.) As in the previous examples, I brought up the exposure slightly, which brightens the image. I noticed in this photo that the temperature was cooler than what I felt was ideal — meaning I could see a lot of blue in the colors of the image. So I slid the temperature slider to the right, towards the yellow tones, which improved the colors of the photo.

Next, as in the above examples, I increased the contrast and the fill light. You can see that a lot of adjustments I make are true for most photos. When I finished with these improvements in Camera RAW, I chose Open Image, which opened it in Photoshop. Once again, most of my work on the image was already done, and I just needed to do any necessary retouching. In this case, I used the clone stamp to remove the leaves from the pavement and the shadow to the left of the model (this isn’t necessary obviously, but I felt these elements were mildly distracting) and I used the healing tool to fix any minor skin blemishes. The new version of the photo pops more, and draws more attention to the bright shirt.

Before photo by Goodbye Blue Monday

For this image, I’ve actually made a video to show you my process of “putting to white.” When an image is shot on a white background like this one, it is really begging to have the white background totally removed so that instead of seeing the product on a white background, you see the product with a total absence of background. (This also allows you to change the crop of your photo to any size, since you can add more space around it easily. It’s also great when your product is shown on a website with a white background like Etsy.) I explain and demonstrate this process in the video, but let me review it here:

To put an image to white, you’ll want to use the Dodge Tool, located in the toolbar. This gives you a circular brush; you can change the size of the brush by using your bracket keys ( [ ] ) beside the P on your keyboard. Along the top of my screen, there is a drop-down box where I can choose Shadows, Midtones or Highlights. To affect the lightest parts of my photo, or the white background, I want to choose “highlights.” If I’m using Photoshop CS4 or higher, then I also want to be sure to uncheck “Protect Tones.” (When we are putting something to white, we don’t want to protect tones, we want to obliterate them altogether.) I choose a lower exposure (3-5%) because this will make sure I’m not also damaging the important parts of the image while getting rid of the background. Then it’s simply a matter of painting around the object to get rid of the white background. It’s actually pretty easy. I do want to leave a little bit of a shadow below the grenade in this case.

You’ll notice in the video that I have a trick to see if I’ve left any spots behind. Because I’m turning white to true white, it’s often difficult to see if I’ve affected everything I want to. So I open my Levels (command or control L) and pull the slider on the left all the way to the right. What this does is it makes absolutely every pixel of my image very dark, so I can easily see areas that I’ve missed. I can click Cancel once I’ve seen what areas I still need to do, and get back to work. I typically perform this check several times during this process to make sure I’m not missing anything.

You can also see in the video how I used the Dodge Tool set to “midtones” to lighten the shadow underneath the product. Finally, I also improved the contrast of the grenade slightly by using Curves (command or control M). To improve contrast, you generally want to make an S curve, as shown in the video.

Do you have a favorite Photoshop trick? Share your top tip in the comments below.

Good tips - I'm somewhat versed in the ways of Photoshop but haven't thought to use it extensively with my Etsy listings - silly how sometimes the answer can be right in front of us!
This combined with the last shop makeover entry is sure to beautify the Etsy countryside. :)

That's lovely, and a quick explanation of some of the easier, though most overlooked, tips and tricks. I use GIMP, not photoshop, but most of those things are easy to do there too. Off to perfect some of my pictures!

Thanks for the info. Photoshop is seriously a godsent, and really has done wonders with my photographs. Esepcially the lighting levels. It's fun to experiment with everything that's for sure! It takes away the scariness of it. :P

This was so helpful! Do you have a video that walks through what each button means? I tend to use Fireworks more than Photoshop because it is so confusing to use. I try to shoot my images so I don't need to edit much.

Perfect timing for this post - I have been reading a Photoshop tutorial book too & learning how I can improve the photos in my shop. I am bookmarking this post to keep referring back to along my journey.

Super helfpul info. I've already tried a few, but I'm stuck. I have PhotoShop 7.0 and I couldn't find the CameraRAW option for opening photos through the Adobe Bridge. Am I missing something or do I need a newer version of PhotoShop?

I will suppress my irritation at the assumption that everyone has access to a $699 program and say thank you for a lot of helpful information. I will see how it works in the less expensive programs I have.

This is great! For peeps who have photoshop elements, this can be done. When in elements, under FILE click BROSE WITH BRIGADE and pic a photo from there! I haven't been able to open a shot that is stored in i-photo, I had to move the photo to a different location first. Unless someone else has a tip on this.

I am glad to know that good photography is possible,even with challenged people like me! I use Windows Gallery and find that it suits my needs. Not sure I want to invest in a very expensive software program.

Um, you don't need Photoshop to do this. I'm a professional photographer who doesn't even have the program (blasphemy!) and am doing fine without it.
For simple changes like these you can use free programs like Picasa or Gimp.

Thanks everybody, keep the comments coming, it's great for our egos! We have been away today and saw the comments roll in on our iPhones. We now have a chance to reply to your questions, so I'll answer previous ones and if anyone has a question I'd be happy to answer it.
thanks,
Mike

Neat Photoshop is Key! I just wish I had that awesome expensive Adobe but hey I do ok with what I have and the little cannon powershot for now. I want the cannon 6d mark II but hey I dont have 4K sitting around lol. Some day.

Thank you so much for a great article. Pictures really ARE everything here. As someone else commented, for those of you who mentioned not having Photoshop (it IS expensive!) you can use Picasa, a free Google download and an excellent one if you only need mild adjustments. It is very easy to use. For more sophisticated work, look at Gimp, it is very Photoshop-like and freeeeee!

The fist thing I'd address is the issue I am seeing of some people not knowing if they can justify Photoshop.
To that I say, if you want to compete on any professional level, then it's a wise investment. A lot of people don't know and I should have mentioned in the article that Photoshop CS5 is available as a free 30 day trial through adobe.com.
It goes great with my PS 101 class too! (Not to plug my class again, but I just did.) Anyway, you can see what you think after that. Chances are you'll love it like me and millions of others.
If you want to know a cheap and legal way to get a current full version of CS5, then I would buy a cheap old full version of PS on Ebay or Amazon, and then by the upgrade, which is not too bad at all. Chances are you will get PS CS5 for about 250.00 or less.

Adjustment layer / brightness-contrast and blurring or cloning out ugly stuff can help a lot. Sometimes one likes to let a few imperfections go in order to keep prices down though on the less expensive items if you are trying to consider paying yourself for your labor.

I got so inspired of Etsy's positive "nagging", searched for photo enhancing on Google (Photoshop seems just so intimidating, even the Elements which I have) and now I PICNIC ALL my photos, it makes magic!
Thanks Etsy for your "nagging", now it is really fun to post photos!

I am obsessed with brighten/contrast to get rid of shadow & give a photo a much needed tune up. I highly recommend PhotoScape as a freebie download for helping a photo out. So accessible & simple to use.
Thanks for the helpful tips!

blissfulbathandbody ASKED: Are there any other programs that are similar to Photoshop because it is so expensive?â€¨
A: You have a few options here:
Photoshop.com - A free, internet flash based method of "improving photos. It is at least made by Adobe.
Photoshop Elements - Like the full version but with out the a couple of notable things like full capacity in using layers (i.e. layer masks) Which is essential for me, but I am not your average user. And also it is missing color contols in it's version of Camera RAW
GIMP - A free internet based program intended for the novice or beginner/mildly interested, pr not willing to shell out the big bucks (which is fine) audience. I have only played with it, but it is just okay in my opinion.
Picnik - A similar to GIMP, free internet based application that is clearly designed to appeal to women.

Not everyone can afford even an old version of Photoshop and it took me years of playing around with it to know what limited knowledge I do have from it. If you have Windows Vista you can make adjustments in their simple photo gallery that help a lot as well. Maybe someone can do a "how to" on that or on some of the other free photo editing programs. If you are set on getting Photoshop, split the cost with a friend on an old version. I believe one copy is good for 2 or 3 computers. Just my 2 cents...

ZAPOLdesigns said: i only have photoshop cs3 on my computer and it doesn't look like i can use the "camera RAW" thing. :(
A: Yeah, Camera RAW was integrated for "free"in CS4. Prior to that you had to pay $99.00 to add that functionality.
I would download the CS5 trial if I were you! Just saying, it's awesome.

desertstarcreations says:
A: Yeah I hope nobody felt that I was saying that you HAVE to have Photoshop and that everyone should be able to afford it. We justify the cost because it's an integral part of our livelihood, but for beginners, then GIMP or Picnik would be great.

Oops, that last one was in reply to the above comment from desertstarcreations
who said:
Not everyone can afford even an old version of Photoshop and it took me years of playing around with it to know what limited knowledge I do have from it.
and also in response to WHSKR, who said:
I will suppress my irritation at the assumption that everyone has access to a $699 program and say thank you for a lot of helpful information. I will see how it works in the less expensive programs I have. â€¨

This article is so great and helpful. Thanks! I already tried the some of tips and I am excited about easy and awesome it is!
For those like myself who need a little extra help on how to open in RAW in Photoshop Elements I found this article:
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/qt/open-jpeg-as-camera-raw.htm

reFORMrecycle says: I have PhotoShop 7.0 and I couldn't find the CameraRAW option for opening photos through the Adobe Bridge. Am I missing something or do I need a newer version of PhotoShop?â€¨
A: Yeah sorry, as I mentioned in another question, you need CS4 or older for that. Frustrating, I know, but smart of them to keep getting people like me to buy new versions of their software!

FruteJuce says: Plus these tips as a PDF would be great so that I can look back easily when needed.â€¨
A: You could always go to your internets browser file pull down (Mac at least) and do Save Page As. It's as good as a PDF and can be converted to a PDF with free software if you want to.
We do also offer a book with all this content found here!
http://nicolesclasses.bigcartel.com/product/photoshop-101-textbook-preorder
It's shameless of me I know, but I also believe in my book as a force for good!

Although Myth Busters have proved that you can, in fact, polish a turd, with photography it's very much a case of getting it right in camera as much as possible. If your product is poorly lit, shot from an unfortunate angle, etc, no amount of photo correction will result in anything worthwhile. So thank you for including the link to Etsy's Guide to Pohography.

this has just made my YEAR!
I've had Bridge sitting here unused never knowing how to use it with Photoshop. I knew about Camera RAW but thought I could only access it when images were shot in RAW mode - so this is INCREDIBLE! Thank you so much, Etsy is going to be full of crisp bright amazing product imagery now!

Oh me, oh my... the hours I've wasted with the magnetic lassoo trying to put my items to white! I knew there had to be a better way and I am off to dodge and burn like a pro. Thanks so much ... especially for the video.

ClayLickCreekPottery says
-will give the Camera RAW a try and learn this technique.
A: Just want to clarify, that the method outlined in the video was don in regular Photoshop and not Camera RAW, you can do a lot in Camera RAW, but there is no dodge tool within it. Just thought i'd clarify

fairyladyglass says:â€¨â€¨ Any advice for really sparkly stuff?
A: I think I know what you mean, but you likely need to shoot the sparkly product at the proper exposure or maybe a touch underexposed and then fix it in later in post production. If it's an issue of too much light bouncing off the sparkly product. I hope that makes sense.

BlueberryCream says: the link to my shop under the photos appears to be broken...
A: I actually noticed that and meant to email Danielle that works for Etsy who compiled the article and images into this blogpost. Sorry, i'll email her for you and explain the issue and I am sure she'll fix it ASAP.

You said, "If you want to compete on any professional level, then it's a wise investment".
I disagree. Photoshop is great, but it's not the be-all and end-all of photo tweaking. I'm a professional photographer and do just fine without it.
A much wiser investment would be to invest in yourself and take a photography class. Learning how to light and compose a shot before you even hit "click" will not only save you untold amounts of post-editing time and energy, but will help develop your "eye" and let you see the world with a whole new sense of creativity. Check your local listings for inexpensive classes, or ask a local photographer if they'd be willing to evaluate your work and give you a few one-on-one lessons for your specific needs.
Even just playing with your camera until you become comfortable with it and learn what it can do, can make a huge difference. Read the manual... go through a chapter at a time and figure out what each setting does. Take it with you everywhere and shoot everything: learn by doing. You don't have to buy expensive equipment to get good-quality photos, you just need to know your camera's quirks.
As chromatophobic mentioned above, "If your product is poorly lit, shot from an unfortunate angle, etc, no amount of photo correction will result in anything worthwhile".
With a developed "eye" and a good, reasonably priced camera, you'll barely need to tweak your photos. I'd much rather see people invest in learning, which will last a lifetime, than "correction" software that will need constant upgrading.
Spend your time creating rather than correcting!!

Flickrtastic says:
You said, "If you want to compete on any professional level, then it's a wise investment".
I disagree. Photoshop is great, but it's not the be-all and end-all of photo tweaking. I'm a professional photographer and do just fine without it.
I understand where you are coming from, and I think it depends where you are coming from. I wasn't meaning to be flippant when I wrote that comment. I feel they go hand in hand, good photos can benefit from good post production, but yes if you know what you are doing as a photographer, and do it well, then you should need PS, if at all, or at least Elements would do.
I can recommend a great book to those interested in this subject, not to beleaguer the point, but here is a great book written by a great photographer on this subject that I can personally vouch for:
http://nicolesclasses.bigcartel.com/product/photo-101-textbook-preorder

The best I can do with my vintage clothing is to photo in a room with white walls and natural sunlight, which happens to be the bathroom.
Will use the info here, much appreciated, to try harder to get good photos!

Thank you for the wonderful advice!! I opened up Adobe Bridge and have been doing the steps as you reccomends although my picture is a bit grainy looking. I guess I'll need more work on the picture taking end...

Great article. I do most editing in PS but will try to utilize Bridge more. Just a word of caution with exposure- make sure you don't "blow out" your images in exchange for more light. Use that tool with care ^_^

I've always had issues with my photos, but have been using the Fix option in Windows Photo Viewer lately. Since I don't have Photoshop, I wonder the differences of these two programs? Not being all that savvy with computer programs, I've been mostly satisfied with the results, but it doesn't hurt to be informed of other options. Thanks!

For those of us who can't afford photoshop I would recommend using a opensource software called GIMP. I love using it, and although I have not recently used photoshop in the last few yrs. They seem pretty comparable.

Wow, this is fabulous. I have just installed the full photoshop and am frankly baffled! I especially love the tutorial on putting an item on white. I have never managed this effectively and can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing, you're a star!

I love photoshop, I use version 7. I wish I had more time to explore the finer details of the program, but I am going to play with it now and use your great tips! Thanks for the info and for using my photo and camera strap pic in the ralated products listing...I was wondering why I had sooooo many views yesterday! I'm looking forward to more articles and tips!

Your article was very interesting but I must say I agree with Flickrtastic's comment "spend time creating rather than correcting". But thanks for going to the trouble to try and help everyone take better photos.

Thank you so much for the advice. I hope to improve both my camera skills and photo editing skills through my experiences on Etsy. Great examples too! I can really tell the difference, even if there isn't much done to photo.

Great info, but as I cannot afford such program, I usually try opensource ones. Sumo Paint @ http://www.sumopaint.com/app/ is a quite satisfying tool for my needs. Also to make vectorial drawings I use inkscape, although I find it a bit "square".

I'd like to add pixlr.com to the list of alternatives to buying Photoshop. It's web based and free and does virtually everything Photoshop does. I use it a lot for adding text to images, using drop shadows and other effects to create my own ads and banners.
To reiterate - if your light is terrible and you can't see the detail or the worst of the worst - it's blurry! - nothing will save you! Be smart, learn and take your time. Don't rely on editing programs to give you great photos!

I have recently discovered this software too. In England it is called Adobe Lightroom 3. You can even download it for a free 30 day trial. I am hooked on this as it means I can take photos in the winter and adjust the light levels!

I have a vague familiarity with Photoshop from my old job. Gimp (free) is very similar, but I had trouble getting a few of the features to work - maybe some compatibility problems with my computer? I ended up scrapping Gimp. If you are very new to this, I'd urge you to try Picasa. They don't have anything like the dodge tool, but you can find fill light, color temperature and crop. Those three alone can make a huge difference! Now I just need to find a program that will make kids hold still when you try to photograph them :P

Hey Everyone, if your a beginner, dont fret, Open your image in Photoshop (any version) and first step go to "IMAGE" and press "AUTO CONTRAST" this is my first and ALWAYS "GO-TO" step. Then you dont have to figure out the levels and balances yourself, because that really takes time getting used to and you could really over/under do it yourself. Thats what photoshop is for, then as you see how it "auto contrasts" you will begin noticing how it changed your photo, and you can learn more from then on, by experimenting in photoshop.
But for a beginners fix. Try "Auto Contrast" then "Auto Color" if it really changes the color, press UNDO (command + z) and you can try to balance the "colors" yourself.
After "Auto Contrast" i next always go to "LEVELS" and press "AUTO"
again if these make your image look "off color" or strange just undo, and you will have to MANUALLY fix them through color, exposure, levels, contrasts, etc,etc. but this is my first tip, if you are just starting off, and want to enhance your photos without, using the ones straight from your camera.
i work on SO many photos everyday, i am an graphic designer, art director, designer and illustrator for an urban teens magazine, and i also have an etsy shop.
GOOD luck!
Angel

He really lost contrast around his edges. I sort of do what he does, but I use a layer mask so I can paint the background WITHOUT worrying about damaging the part of the image that contains the product. And if I do paint with the highlight over the product a little, it can easily be erased - and you can't do that with his technique. Try a layer mask for an easier way! :)

@Janimie your photos are beautiful! you must have a great camera!
Sometimes thats the beginning key to everything
A good camera! and NATURAL DAYLIGHT! no flash
@janimie, the older versions of photoshop, dont have a (maximum copy registration use) so if you can find someone who has an older version, you can probably install it on your computer.
or find someone who needs the program also, and split it, and each of you use, the registration number.
i also found a great deal on ebay for CS4

I've taught Photoshop and it is really too much for most people. For free you can get Picassa, Google's fantastic photo editing tool. Go to Google.com > More > Even More. The Picassa download is under Communicate, Share, and Show. It is super easy to use. Try adding fill light. That improves most every picture. Also play with the color adjustment.

This article was extremely beneficial for me, as I am quite the amateur when it comes to phototaking. I have definitely noticed that a lot of my photos are coming out way too dark. I will definitely strive to take better photos in the future with this application! Thanks a million, Mike!

I am very new to Photoshop though I have had PS2 for about 4 years now. I just started playing with it and I'm a little lost. I really want to try out Camera Raw as suggested in this post, but when I go to Adobe Bridge and right click the image I want, it does not offer "open in camera raw"...I'm going to ask what might be a silly question, but - do you have to take your pictures with the camera setting set to RAW in order to use Camera Raw on PS? I would be so greatful for some help! Thank you in advance. :)

For those who cannot afford photoshop (of which population I am a member) I recommended downloading GIMP for free. Just enter GIMP into your google search engine and it will appear... and save you hundreds of dollars. I find it's easier than photoshop. Even now that I have it (as a gift, not as a purchase) I use GIMP because photoshop has been so confusing to me. I hope this helps somebody!

After a trip to the shop, my computer came back without Photoshop. I received it as part of a class and didn't have the backup. So, I bought PS Elements. I've been right clicking but can't find a "camera raw" in the editor or organizer. Is it there?

I use photoshop all the time but I had no idea about the RAW option and your method for obliterating the white background seems to get better results than the way I was doing it! Thanks so much, this is super helpful and I can't wait to have better pictures!

This is really fantastic. I wonder though, I have been using Picasa as a way to shop my photos and I have been pretty happy with it.
I know it's not super fancy but its so user friendly!
Anyone have any insights as to whether I should go a step up with something more expensive?

These are all great suggestions! As a professional photographer and retoucher, I understand how hard it is to learn Photoshop and how expensive it is to purchase. I also know that you may not have the time or patience to do these things yourself! If the photo or the item can handle the extra expense, consider hiring a professional! If you do attempt it on your own, Photoshop can be fun! Enjoy! www.photokitchen.net

Super improvements in the photos with just a little work. I have had some success first in PhotoDraw (but am trying to wean myself off of it since it does not always get along with Windows 7) and now with Picnik. I have a version of Photoshop but am not comfortable at all with using it. I may have to look you up for some classes. I just can't seem to muddle myself though it as I usually can with most programs.

I really learned something here. Thanks so much for these tips. Gonna try it on a new batch of photos I have to edit. The editing on the model in the black strapless top against the black and white wallpaper came out GREAT!

Is there a camera RAW option in GIMP? I know this is a long way down the comments so may not get noticed but I don't have photoshop and am really hoping I can achieve the same quality with the software I have.

Is there a camera RAW option in GIMP? I know this is a long way down the comments so may not get noticed but I don't have photoshop and am really hoping I can achieve the same quality with the software I have.

Wow, thanks for the advice.. I need to try photoshop.. presentation is half the effort.. as an artist, I concentrate on making the necklaces and earrings from seeds... but then taking good pictures is the other half I need to learn too... thank you. God bless you.

Thank you again for all the great comments! We really appreciate your enthusiasm, and we also appreciate all the great advice that's being shared. Just wanted to pop in and follow up on some questions:
1) Several people have asked about more affordable options than Photoshop. There are definitely great options out there. If you're looking for a free or less expensive program, scan through these comments to see what other Etsy members have suggested. I've tried to get a list from the comments of everything suggested so far. Here goes:
Photoshop Elements (available for under or up to $100)
Photoshop.com
picnik.com
Picasa
sumopaint.com
pixlr.com
gimp.com

2) Some people have asked if other programs are capable of doing things like this. The answer is YES. Just like cameras are all capable of taking photos, photo editing programs are all capable of editing and enhancing your photos in some way. I use Photoshop because it is an industry leader in photo retouching and because the work that I do demands the use of a very robust program. But just like you don't need to run out and buy the best, most expensive, and most professional camera out there to take your photos, you also don't have to use the most expensive photo editing program. Do what fits in your budget and do what suits your level of usage. One commenter who is already happy with the results from Picasa, which they're currently using, asked, "Anyone have any insights as to whether I should go a step up with something more expensive?" I would say that if what you're using works for you, then don't worry about upgrading to something more expensive.

As for those who have asked HOW to do this in other programs, because there are so many options for programs out there that will enhance your images, then to answer that question is a little beyond the scope of this article (not to mention my own experience; since I use Photoshop for all of my work, I have never actually used other programs and wouldn't be qualified to explain exactly how to use each of them). A simple google search should yield some pretty good how-tos out there, though. For example, try "improve contrast using Picasa." (Ironically, if you do that search, the first article that comes up is about Photoshopâ€¦ but do some digging and you should be able to find help no matter what program you choose.)

3) There have been some questions about Camera RAW and Photoshop Elements. From my understanding of what I was able to find online, for MAC, the most recent version of Photoshop Elements comes with Bridge, and you can open Camera RAW from there. (Are there MAC users out there who can confirm this?) What I don't exactly understand is what PC users have. I can see online that there are some references to the "Organizer" instead of Bridge, and I don't know if Camera RAW is then accessible through the Organizer. And I'm not sure why Adobe would package it differently for each platform, but they obviously have.

4) Camera RAW in Photoshop: A couple of people have asked about finding Camera RAW through Photoshop, and have indicated that they are using CS3 or a previous version. Adobe started including Camera RAW with versions CS4 and higher, so unfortunately it's not available in those previous versions. However, you can accomplish the same things using different methods in Photoshop. Look through for Angeldamico's comment, which walks you through some easy options for doing similar things within Photoshop.

5) LilacSaloon mentioned that I lost contrast around my edges. This is true, although I felt that any loss that occurred was minimal. There is definitely the option of using layer masks, but after teaching Photoshop for a number of years, I felt that sharing the concept of layer masking in a basic how-to article would be going a little beyond the basics. I do address layer masking in both my book and my online Photoshop course, as it is obviously a very important function of Photoshop! Thanks for pointing this out!

6) Eccentric Accessories asked, "Is there a camera RAW option in GIMP? " I am not aware of a Camera RAW option in GIMP. Does anyone else know the answer? I would assume that there is not, but everything that I've done here can be accomplished using GIMP; it would just be different steps. See my comment above (2) about searching the internet for tutorials that can help you use the program that you're most comfortable using.

lovelandmisc says:
What I don't exactly understand is what PC users have. I can see online that there are some references to the "Organizer" instead of Bridge, and I don't know if Camera RAW is then accessible through the Organizer. And I'm not sure why Adobe would package it differently for each platform, but they obviously have.
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i use CS4 for PC at my day job. Camera RAW is packaged through Bridge.

Great tips, although I use a Memory Manager program and it works for me.
I know people like the 'high Key' bright look, but I find sometimes it blows out the texture. I would rather have people see the stones and details in my work, but the bright images seem more pleasing to others. It's always a conflict.

Very helpful. Thorough, but understandable! It's amazing what lighting does (or doesn't do) for your photo! White backgrounds look nice here on Etsy but that's kind of boring to us so we like to add some colors and props. Photography is so subjective though. Thank you for these quick tips on what simple lighting adjustments can do!

Loveandmisc
Thanks for the reply! I can't find anything like RAW on Gimp that I have although some searching suggests that there is a downloadable add on that has the same options. I shall stick to what I know for now.

Ever since I started my shop, I have dreaded taking photos and I think it shows in my photography. It's one of the aspects of my shop that I am most disappointed in. Now I'm actually looking forward to trying all the tips and tricks I've been reading about. Thank you!

I have a vintage camera collection, they are so much fun to find.I also started teaching my children when they were very young about photography, they've always had thier own cameras.I guess the most imp. thing I've taught them is composition, learning to look @ the world or subjects in a diff. way or use an unusual perspective.

Amazing article! FYI everybody- You can get Photoshop Elements (PSE) for around $100 and it has the "dodge" tool, too. You can also use histograms, easily resize images, and it has an awesome "guided" edit option. It is an affordable alternative!

I hope I didn't miss anything yet to do with uploading pictures to Etsy? I have a horrible time trying to reconfigure my photos for Etsy. They are so hit an miss it is extremley frustrating. I know I am not the only one that has problems with uploading to Etsy as I have heard from others on Facebook about it.

Another thing that is not mentioned is that to use Camera "RAW" your picture must be shot in that format. If you dont have a high end digital camera, you wont have the choice in format that your pictures are shot in. I cant afford the camera I want so I relay on editing my jpegs after the fact.

Desertstarcreations: Shooting in RAW is preferred, but you can use Camera RAW to work JPGs too! In fact all the before and afters for this article were JPGs that shop owners uploaded to flicker. So don't let your current camera hold you back if you'd like to use Camera RAW.

Really helpful article, especially since I've been wondering how to remove the white background completely from some of my photos. I've bee using GIMP to touch up my photos, now that I know some of the terms I'll play around more and see if I can get GIMP to do the same thing as Photoshop. Thanks for the wonderful article!

Great and helpful hints. I have embarked on a trial and error with Gimp as I don't have Photoshop. Just starting out and on a limited budget and going with the free downloads for the time being. Any assistance is always greatly appreciated! And pardon my avatar but lucky just to get that picture to work!

I'm sure this is great for Photoshop users, but I use PhotoImpact and have devised other ways of getting these same tasks done.
Another point; not all cameras have the option to save in raw (or tiff) format. In the case where a camera only saves in jpg format, like my camera, one can shoot at the highest resolutions, upload the lossy jpg and convert to your graphics program's native format (ufo for PhotoImpact) do the work and then save to whatever display format your software allows.

Excellent tutorial! I'd never used the Dodge tool before to whiten the background. I use Gimp and had always used the white dropper, but it had the effect of washing out the colours. Gimp has the same Dodge tool so I'm now experimenting to see if I can make some improvements. So glad I saw this feature! :)

I have to say, I've been using Photoshop since 1999, so I was unaware of Bridge or what it was or how to use it since it came out. I read your tutorial and within minutes I was able to fix my pictures in a way that was taking me FOREVER to do in Photoshop the long way! You have truly saved me so much time and taught me invaluable tips and tricks that I didn't even know existed! I am a camera raw fan forever now! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!!!
Sincerely,
Lola Lambert
AutismLoveHope.com

immensely helpful, thankyou!
have been trying to figure out a way to clean up the paper tones in scans of pencil drawings without losing the integrity of the pencil line {that didn't take 10 hours or more} for a long time!!
your dodge tool method worked pretty well :)

Great tips, thanks SO MUCH! As someone who uses a white background, I found that white elimination thing quite interesting and hope to try it out! :)
I have Photoshop Elements, but was quite overwhelmed by it. I use it minimally, getting a lot of my editing done with Picasa and/or Picnik. This is partly b/c we just got a laptop and I have yet to install my Adobe on it. ;-)

Great information here. My trouble is that I don't know how to find the setting on my Canon camera that would enable me to shoot pictures in camera raw mode. Any suggestions out there?
Denise
from
Beaded Embellishments
http://www.etsy.com/shop/beadedembellishments

Thanks so much for writing this article, lovelandmisc! I didn't even realize I had some of these settings - or didn't know what they were for - in Photoshop Elements!
I'm so excited about giving them a try now and re-doing several of my photos:)

Very convincing before and after examples. I use GIMP these days which has most of the same features but a different interface. Do you know of a resource that could explain how to adjust the whites and fill light in GIMP?

I don't know if this has been covered (it's 4am and my eyes gave out halfway down this page!) but you don't need to buy an add-on for RAW. I have CS3 -just go (in PS) to File>open as...> and select Camera RAW from the file type drop-down menu.
For those on a budget, you can get Photoshop Elements on eBay fairly cheaply, and you don't need the latest version to get what you need from it.

I use Gimp photo editing software. Its free to download and use. My pet peeve is the dull gray tint the camera leaves in the picture. Other photo editing softwares are great, but gimp get to the further details such as lens distort. You can zoom in the picture without it looking too grainy. Another is orton effect. I really wipes out the grayish grains cameras leave behind. Last bu not least is the National Geographic filter. It's so professional looking. it gives the portrait a feel of its own. Make it look the top quality yet! I'm still a gimp filter junkie, always looking for the next best free filter!!!

To be honest, I'd rather have my jewelry photos without "correcting" it with photoshop, but then again, we're here to sell....
I get a lot of comments from friends such as "your photos need some photoshop", so i've decided to use the software...hopefully it will help my sales...will let u know how i did. Anyhow, thx a lot for all the important tips!!!

photoshop makes such a difference to photos, can take some time to get used to if you don't use computers much, but as long as you know how to crop, and where 'Levels' or 'Exposure' (on the newer versions which I find better) then you can fix any photo :)

I have Photoshop, and I have bridge but I can't figure out how to open my images in Camera Raw. I've opened Bridge, navigated to my image, right clicked and in the options that come up Camera Raw isn't one of them. Am I doing something wrong? Anyone else have this problem?

OMG just found this post and tried the suggestions. I had no idea I could make such amazing impact to my photos. I have some exciting work to do today using these tips to enhance my listings. Thanks SO much for the amazing info.

I know you already have 499 comments, but i just want to say thank you SO much! I have been trying to figure out how to make my photos better and this is the answer I've been looking for! Thank you so much for taking the time to explain it!

Thank you so much. I just love to look clean, amazing shots of simple things brought to life. They just pop. A friend of my gave me photo-shop as a gift, and while i have taught myself very, very basic things, i found it truly intimidated, until now. I will practice all of your examples until I master them. Thanks

hi, what great help thank you. I am having trouble with my image turning...do you are any tips for me to prevent this? Example a portrait shows the top of the head ...at the top....when my images turn , the top of the head would be on the left side of the page...help...lol

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